Nancy Pelosi, a towering force in American politics and the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that she will retire from Congress at the next election.
“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,” the 85-year-old Democrat said in a video message to her San Francisco constituents, adding that she intends to serve her remaining year in office “with a grateful heart.”
Pelosi — whose current term ends in January 2027 — made history as the first woman to lead a major political party in Congress.
Despite entering elected office later in life, she ascended rapidly through the ranks, becoming a defining figure of liberal West Coast politics and ultimately one of the most influential women in U.S. history.
Now in her 19th term, Pelosi has represented her San Francisco district for 38 years. But her national prominence stems from her unparalleled leadership of the Democratic Party over two decades and her eight years as Speaker, during which she was second in the presidential line of succession.
Pelosi was widely respected for her ability to unify a diverse and often divided Democratic caucus through pivotal legislative battles — including the passage of Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act and Joe Biden’s sweeping infrastructure agenda.
To Republicans, however, she was a symbol of what they viewed as an out-of-touch liberal establishment. Donald Trump, in particular, made her a frequent target, repeatedly ridiculing her as “Crazy Nancy.” Pelosi, known for her steely resolve, never backed down — famously tearing up Trump’s State of the Union speech on live television in a moment that became emblematic of their bitter rivalry.
Speculation about her retirement had been circulating for weeks, but Pelosi had declined to comment, saying she was focused on a redistricting reform initiative in California, which voters approved on Tuesday.
Her departure marks the end of a landmark era in congressional leadership — and closes the chapter on one of the most consequential political careers in modern American history.
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